Pittsburgh concussion study: it's safer to practice good tackling than to limit contact

Rather than reduce tackling drills to protect young football players from concussions, it's probably better to let them tackle, while teaching them the right way. That's the finding of a study published today by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh.

The study was funded with a $100,000 grant from the NFL Charities and involved 468 players between the ages of 8 and 12 on 18 youth football teams in Pennsylvania.

It runs counter to recent polices of some youth leagues including Pop Warner that have placed limits on contact with the goal of protecting players from concussions.

The authors wrote, "The current study’s findings suggest that reducing contact exposures in youth football will likely have little effect on reducing concussion risk, as few concussions actually occur in practice. Practice is when tackling technique is taught and reinforced in a much safer environment than in games, where the incidence of concussion is higher than that in practice. Limiting practices in youth football may not only have little effect on reducing concussions but may also actually increase the incidence of concussions in games via reduced time learning proper tackling in practice. A better approach to reducing concussions in youth football may be to focus on awareness and education."

One of the findings was that concussions were much more likely to happen in games than in practice. In the study group of 468 players, practice concussions occurred at a rate of about one concussion per 4,000 practices. In games, they occurred at a rate of slightly more than 6 concussions per 1,000 games.

The study found that 8- to 10- year-olds were three times less likely than 11- to 12-year-olds to receive a concussion in a practice or a game. The researchers attributed that to the fact that the older players are bigger, faster, strong and more likely to engage in contact.

They further noted that 19 of the 20 concussions that occurred in the study group involved quarterbacks, running backs or linebackers. The researchers suggested that rotating players among positions might mitigate concussion risk.

The researchers said their study is the first to examine concussion rates in this age range. However, they said their work is "a good first step, but more research is needed," and noted that little is known about the long-term impacts of repetitive sub-concussive impacts in practices and games. The researchers said three million children play youth football in the United States.